Low budget single mama and 16yr old boy daydreaming of taking our very first 'real' vacation. I'm thinking beach, but open to ideas. I don't have much money, but for the first time...I think I can share travel with my boy. We're pretty hearty, like adventure, like relaxing. Any suggests?

Most definitely Los Angeles. LAX! Flights average out to about $275 round trip from YVR. If you drive down to Seattle and fly from SEA, they're $125 round trip.

In the summer do a road trip down the Oregon coast into California!

Agreed. Drive to Seaside or Manzanita OR in July. Book early.

Penticton, Osoyoos have nice beaches too if you want to avoid airfare.

Camping through US national parks. Especially the southwest. Arches, Zion, Grand Canyon and more! Annual parks pass is a great buy! This single mama has been traveling with her daughter since she was 6. Enjoy the time!

Clarification: crappy car lol, want what most peeps would consider a 'real' vacation. We camp every year, I kinda want to blow my sons mind with something cool and memorable

not that our camping trips haven't been fun, they are the best...but all of the people we know do a trip to Mexico, or Cuba, or...and we have never been able to. I may have enough set aside to do it, eek - exciting!

Kim Cuba was incredible... If you can take some heat you can find great buys on all-inclusives in Mexico, Cuba or other Caribbean locations in the summer. Or really cheap Caribbean cruises out of Florida in the summer. Hawaii can be done affordably if you find a place to stay on VRBO.

Costa Rica! You can find cheap flights (I got mine for $456 round trip from yet for February), cheap food once you're down there, and you can rent a place for pretty cheap. My boyfriend and I figure we will spend $1200 each on our one week trip including flights. we will be doing all sorts of activities as well!

Keep your eyes open and you can land Super cheap all inclusives to Mexico for $499 sometimes . Check out escapes.ca or travelbestbets.com

Great suggestion! Sign up for the newsletter on their website. They have awesome last minute deals.

Vegas! Might not sound like the best "family vacation" but there is sooo much to do for kids. There's neat shows, you can stay at the Excalibur, see the medieval nights shows, go in door sky diving, rent a car and go to the Grand Canyon, see the neon signs museum, the pinball arcade... I could go on lol, but I won't. Fly out of Bellingham and book hotel through them. Super cheap. I've taken the family there a few times. Never disappointed.

New York. I took my daughter at 16, she still says it was the best trip. West jet has deals. Consider pet sitting? You could get a place in England, Ireland, hike, site see, for the price of caring for someone's pets while they're away.

Oaxaca cheap and lovely

A Mexican all inclusive you can get fairly cheap closer to may-june lots of fun

México because pesos are cheap! Rent an Airbnb not a resort. Ride the buses and eat Tacos. I live in Puerto Vallarta and can eat/drink and explore for less than 1500 a month including my 3 bedroom rental.

I'm jealous. I'm dying to move to Mexico

It's not hard. Happy to share info.

This is how we do Mexico. To hell with resorts. Yes to vrbo and airbn. You may enjoy sayulita. Fly to PV. Cheapest flights. Bus for 45 mins to Sayulita. Little surf town lots of good food.

Ps. Most rentals on Sayulitalife.com
SAYULITALIFE.COM
Sayulita Life - Sayulita Mexico Vacations - Hotels, Real Estate & Surf Beaches

I like Yelapa. Its more mellow and slow better family vibe. Super safe feeling. I go there as a single mom and feel like everyone has my back.

Keep an eye on travelzoo.ca as well. Some great deals; but google before buying to make sure the seller is reputable!

Thailand was amazing. Flights are pricy but once you're there very inexpensive. I went last March single mom with 3 kids. Felt very safe and my kids loved it. We have also done the all inclusive thing too but can get pricey when going on the excursions. You don't want to stay on the resort for 7 days.

I wanted to believe this in my heart and your post sent my dream into reality!

Pedro Vallarta Mexico fly direct from Kelowna !

Puerto Vallarta lol

But leave PV and go north to sayulita with 16 year old sun. He would love surf camp.

The Royal Decameron in Puerto Vallarta drops to $200 plus tax every June! Like clock work! We've been there and loved it!
$200 includes air, hotel, food and drinks!

Done the same! Super great time!

Wow that's cheap! Who do u book thru?

Every year, it's posted on Escapes.ca

Flying out of where??

Vancouver

when does this get posted, is it close to June

Yes, it will come up at the end of May. Or early June. It's a last Minute Deal usually

Sarah great thx. We've been to that resort before it was decent
I'll watch for it

As long as you're not expecting the Hilton, you should be happy for the price

Loved royal decameron

Yes great place

Yup, it's a great place for the price!

Do an all inclusive. It will come out cheaper than a typical holiday to the US where you're paying for everything separately. More exotic too.

Costa Rica, Thailand

What's the maximum your willing to spend and when youre planning to go

U can try take the Amtrak from Vancouver to Portland and take a bus from Portland to the Oregon Coast! It could be less than $200 per person round trip. http://traveloregon.com/cities-regions/oregon-coast/
TRAVELOREGON.COM
Oregon Coast Information, Maps & Resources | Travel Oregon

Even bolt bus is cheaper! Probably like $60-$70 return each to Portland from van

Mexico all inclusive

If you can wait till Jan I can give you a week stay in PVR but you just gotta cover the fees.
I own timeshare and I get a week every year. I'm gonna miss this one and it expires at the end of Jan (feb 3).
It's around $400 or so.
Basically I use a company called interval international to exchange my week with others' weeks and they charge a fee of $259usd plus there's a guest certificate fee and the resort usually has a tax.
Anyway, my mom was a single mom and we never went on vacation when I was a kid. (Could barely afford cable!) so I totally get it. Happy to spread the love!

Last July we went to the Mayan Rivera (Tulum) for a week for $2100 total for three of us all inclusive with transport from airport with Sunwing

Disneyland trips are fun for all ages and you can do 'fairly' cheap. Unfortunately with our dollar nothing is cheap now.

I'm going in 3 months. The tickets will cost us the same as the flight and hotel combined through WJ Vacations.

OMG people of this group, thank all of you who posted here: We are going to Thailand! Scary, exciting and preparing for a mom/son adventure of a lifetime for the month of April. Going to the elephant sanctuary overnight n then to Chaing Mai for Songkran - what 16yr old wouldn't love that!!! We're going budget and I have found good flights on Air China which I hear is a good airline. After Chaing Mai we're heading south to the beaches. Feel free to continue your useful tips/experiences here. This will be my last backpacking adventure of a lifetime and my sons first. My heart is very happy right now and I am researching like CRAZY, fun!!

excellent choice - lots of inexpensive accommodation - if you spend a bit more you can get a wonderful buffet breakfast included - especially with a teen boy might be worthwhile.